Ep. #58: Creepy Calm

Today we're talking about something that happens if you're trying to control your reactions as opposed to changing them. I call it creepy calm. This is very closely related to what I talked about in Episode 17: Cultivating Patience. It's a by-product of what I call white-knuckling patience (or calm). Essentially, it's when you have an emotional reaction to whatever your child is doing or saying, but you are so committed to staying calm that your energy gets poured into maintaining the appearance of calm while frustration, anger, even fury, are brewing beneath the surface.It's like Luisa's eye twitch in Encanto, or that dog who's sitting and drinking coffee while the house burns down.I'm fine. This is fine.When you're using that much energy to contain your emotions, you take on a flat affect. You may appear calm, but it's a creepy calm. And your kids don't dig it.Listen on for more...***Over the next week and a half, I have a special offer for you. I am looking for beta-testers! I am looking for people who want to cut to the chase and start to understand and change their reactive patterns in the first hour in a laser-focused coaching call.One hour/$100.10 spots available.Book yours here: https://www.coachaccountable.com/offering/Pfv6tt3qLk5B7w8Z83C76CnOsAkDLsH--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/julia-mcgarey/support Get full access to The Blackbird Chronicles at juliamcgarey.substack.com/subscribe This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit partneredpathparenting.substack.com